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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Is the Grove getting back into the club biz?

I have a theory. It's only a theory, but I want you to remember this. Mr. Moe's has it's 5 am last call license back. They got it back from the City Commission earlier this month, without much fanfare.

I am guessing that the next 5 am license will go to the new venue on Florida Avenue, shown here, Villa Mayfair. Only because the owners have deep pockets, they seem to be able to call a lot of the shots around the Grove and they have been promoting after hours and bottle service. So it just seems to reason that 5 am last call is next. We do need a dance club in the Grove. The Beer Garden and Sushi Lounge at CocoWalk was the closest thing lately, but they are now both closed. So is The Burgundy Room.

I could be totally wrong, I have not asked around, but I just have a hunch. Stay tuned.

Most of the places you mentioned failed because they simply did not fit into the Grove lifestyle or simply did not have a business plan at all. Sushi Central / Beer Garden was horrible. A beer garden with barely any beer, mediocre food, pretentious attitude (a velvet rope and bouncer at the entrance, really?) and horrible location. The Yardhouse less than 2 miles away has done extremely well. They could have given them a run for their money, but they screwed the pooch.

Burgundy Room had potential since it was in an ideal spot. I don't know where they went wrong as the piano bar and Tu Tu Tango were both fun.

Villa Mayfair won't last long either. That area is pretty much dead at night and their prices are ridiculous. People don't come to the Grove to eat at such expensive, fancy places. At least not anymore. And where would people go after dinner if they don't want to stick around in the same place? To Cocowalk and hang out at Fat Tuesday?

Sadly there really aren't that many fun places left in the Grove. Sandbar is always packed and a guaranteed good time. Moes is also a fun spot. Taurus has done really well, despite being somewhat out of the way and a bit on the small side.

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